January.

Michael Eugene Burgess, of Rosemont Avenue, died on May 27, 1996, after he was seen banging his head against walls and railings on Front Street and Par-La-Ville Road.

The inquest began on September 24 but was adjourned after a few hours when the lawyers representing Mr. Burgess' family -- Julian Hall and Kim Wilson -- told Senior Coroner William Francis that they did not have sufficient time to review American pathologist Valerie Rao's statements.

Mr. Francis adjourned the inquest until yesterday when, during a brief mention in Magistrates' Court, he set it down to resume on January 19.

He added that he was setting aside the entire week to hear the matter as 28 witnesses still have to be called.

So far the six woman, four man jury has heard how medical personnel fought to save Mr. Burgess' life but failed.

It was also revealed that an ambulance was dispatched earlier that day to pick up Mr. Burgess but he refused treatment so it returned empty before being sent out about an hour later to pick up the man from Hamilton Police Station.

A Government analyst discovered Mr. Burgess had 215 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood and traces of cocaine in his bloodstream. He also found brown paper and crack cocaine in Mr. Burgess' stomach.